Three months ago, single mum-of-two Charlotte Sapwell had never so much as picked up a tool since failing her year nine woodwork class.
Now, the Victorian woman is less than a month from completing a tiny house – built entirely with her own hands, with guidance from her grandad, experienced renovator Rob.
The 26-year-old told Mamamia that the project didn’t come from a desire to jump on board the growing tiny house trend, but was born out of necessity.
“About two and a half years ago my husband actually decided that he no longer wanted to be married anymore, and Theo was five weeks old,” she told Mamamia. “So that happened.”
Soon, Charlotte and her two young sons, Eli and Theo (now five and two years old respectively) were forced to move from their home and downsize to a rental property.
However, the Ballarat mum once again faced upheaval four months ago when her ex-husband took a new, lower-paying job that severely reduced his child support payments.
Unable to pay her rent anymore, Charlotte was out of options and faced with sleeping on her parent’s couch – until her grandad made a suggestion that they build a tiny house on her parent’s property.
“I genuinely didn’t know what I was going to do.”
Top Comments
What a lovely family. The tiny house trend is really popular at the moment, not sure I could live in one but I take my hat off to her
They've done a great job & should be proud!
The reason it will only cost $10,000 is because she doesn't own the land it's on, that is purely for the tiny house. Does she rent the land from her parents? What happens if they decide to sell etc.?